A Qatari investment group has bought a 38 per cent stake in Anya Hindmarch in a deal valuing the luxury handbag and accessories company’s equity at £70m.
The new shareholders have purchased a minority stake held by UK private equity investors, including Kelso Place, and have also injected fresh capital into the business.
The privately owned company, whose celebrity clientele has included the actor Sienna Miller, declined to name the investor or divulge any other details about it other than to say it was a “private” group.
The eponymous founder, who began the business 25 years ago, remains the company’s controlling shareholder. Her stake has been diluted, but the company declined to quantify the size of her holding.
In a statement in response to a story in the Sunday Telegraph, the company said: “The arrival of the new minority investor is the next step in a series of initiatives planned to accelerate the Company’s growth strategy.”
Anya Hindmarch has been one of the UK’s fastest-growing smaller luxury goods companies with pre-tax profits more than doubling to £830,000 in 2010 on revenues up 12 per cent to £20m.
James McArthur, formerly of Gucci and Harrods, was appointed chief executive in May last year to take over from Ms Hindmarch, who now concentrates on the creative side of the business. She remains chairman.
The company’s range of handbags, purses and other accessories are sold through its 56 stores, online and through franchise partners in markets including Japan, the US and Hong Kong.